Town won’t vote on Smart Meters

A request to place a moratorium on Smart Meters in Cache Creek failed to get the support of Council.

Coun. Herb Hofer supported the motion at the Dec. 12 Council meeting, but it needed a second councillor to support it before it could be debated and voted on.

Cache Creek couple Les and DebiAlexander brought the request to Council before the municipal elections in November, and the it was deferred for the new council to consider.

“I don’t have a problem with one Smart Meter in my house,” said Hofer, “but some residences have several of them nearby. BC Hydro says it won’t harm you, but it can’t be good for you.”

Mayor John Ranta noted that there would be apartment buildings where several meters are in put into one room.

Coun. Darrell Rawcliffe said that even a bank of meters wouldn’t be all transmitting at the same time. “There’s no harm unless you’re inches away,” he said.

Les Alexander thanked Hofer for his words and asked Council to reconsider

“I think there’s a bigger problem here than we realize,” he said. “Even if there’s just one person’s health damaged, isn’t that enough?”

“I don’t disagree that at some point there could be a buildup of EMFs (Electro Magnetic Fields) that does begin to imping on people’s health,” said Ranta, “But I don’t believe it will affect the vast majority.”

He told Alexander that Council could not reconsider the motion, but that he was welcome to bring up the issue again by making a presentation to Council.

Alexander said he was very disappointed in Council’s decision. He said he and his wife will take it easy over the holidays and try again in the New Year by educating people.

People have a choice whether they want to use modern technology – computers, cell phones and the like, “but once they put a Smart Meter in your house, you don’t have a choice.”

BC Hydro replaced their analogue meter with a Smart Meter in mid-November, but took it out when Alexanders requested them to do so.

“People have got to wake up,” he said, suggesting that “even if you just Google smart meters and have a look…”